They face many perils along this journey as well as in their wintering homes. Here, they are in danger from habitat loss, pesiticides, and genetically modified crops. In Mexico logging and destruction of the forests where they spend the winter is a major concern.

First, Monarchs need milkweed (Asclepias spp) because that’s the only plant the caterpillars can eat. Milkweed is treated like a weed in many places, and if often sprayed with Roundup and other herbicides. So when you plant lots of milkweed in your ecosystem garden, you’re already helping them out.

Milkweeds of differentspecies mature and flower at different times during the season. By increasing the number of milkweedspecies in your habitat you will increase the likelihood that monarchs will utilize your property for alonger period during the breeding season

Nectar. Adult butterflies feed on nectar, so plant a wide variety of plants that bloom from spring through fall

Don’t use pesticide

And finally, support the organizations who are working so hard to protect this endangered phenomena, both here and in Mexico.

My favorite, aside from Monarch Watch who sponsor the Monarch Waystation program, is the Monarch Monitoring Project in Cape May, NJ. They have been tagging and tracking these beautiful butterflies for many years now, and working to answer many questions:

How many Monarchs that pass through Cape May actually make it to their wintering grounds in Michoacan Mexico in the Trans Volcanic Mountains?

How many miles do they travel each day?

What is the migratory pathway that they travel?

Do all Monarch Butterflies use the same pathway?

They’ve been researching the answers to these questions since 1991, and if you’re ever in Cape May during late September and October, stop by and see their demonstration in the pavilion near the hawk watch platform at Cape May Point State Park.

You provided great information & I would like permission to forward it to our local newspaper so others can be educated. I live in a rural area that for years considered milkweed a noxious weed & local law required it’s removal. I enjoy organic gardening & this article is a great example of why we need to reduce the use of chemicals in our gardens.

Beth, thanks for your support. It is sad that so many communities continue to spray herbicides along roadside edges to eradicate beneficial plants such as the mildweeds. It’s true the Common Milkweed can spread and be a little agressive, but there are so many other types of Asclepias that do very well in gardens.

When I asked for milkweed at the nursery, they told me milkweed was not available to purchase, just found wild! How do I find milkweed?
I have several flowers varieties and lots of butterflies, but would like to add a monarch sighting!